Umphreys McGee scored an 83% attendance rate at the USTORM Benefit on Saturday night at Chicagos Park West. All of the members of the band were in attendance save Joel Cummins, in support of the charitable organization co-founded by UMs Brendan Bayliss. Other participants included moe.s Al Schnier, The Disco Biscuits Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner, Yonder Mountain String Bands Jeff Austin, Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) and Ron Johnson (New Monsoon).
The evening opened with Bayliss and Austin performing Always Up and pair was soon joined by Schnier and Johnson for End of the Road, That’s the Way, and Grave. Other first set highlights included Bayliss, Schnier and Austin delivering the Beatles I’ve Just Seen a Face as well as a version of The Weight that also featured Hartswick, Magner and UMs Ryan Stasik and Kris Myers. The second set opened with a version of Umphreys Jammy-Award winning In The Kitchen delivered by the Biscuits duo, Schnier and UMs Bayliss, Myers and Jake Cinninger. These same musicians later offered a take on the Biscuits Home Again as well as versions of Brain Damage, Eclipse and moe.s Moth (with Brownstein sitting out on the moe. tune). The participating performers also covered such songs as: Karma Police, Life During Wartime, Helter Skelter and Bitches Brew.
The USTORM Foundation, which recently completed its first year of operations is a 501©(3) Non-profit foundation that has defined in raising funds to help needy children and young adults improve their lives by providing access to various music and art educational programs.